A Marine Park woman took the mourning that comes from losing a parent and has turned into a positive, annual community event.

Geena Bell lost her mom, Joanna, to pancreatic cancer when she was 17 years old. She discovered the cancer at a routine checkup and died just a year and a half after her diagnosis.

Instead of letting the grief consume her, Bell started an annual walk to help others in the community and raise funds for the aggressive form of cancer that has a low survival rate.

The seventh annual Marine Park Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk takes place Sunday, and so far in the walk’s history, Bell has been able to raise over $200,000 for cancer research.

"[My mom] was a very busy lady, and she was always on the go and helping others — and that's what it's about, helping others," Bell says.